System and method for providing environmental impact information, recording medium recording the information, and computer data signal

ABSTRACT

An environmental impact information collection system modifies and analyzes environmental impact information, which is collected and stored in advance, and obtains the environmental impact at each process done in an organization, according to each product. The environmental impact information collection system then obtains a set of environmental impacts in a product&#39;s life cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an environmental impactinformation system, and, more particularly, to a system, method,recording medium, and computer data signal, for providing and recordingenvironmental impact information, and for collecting informationregarding various environmental impacts at an organization (company,corporation, etc.) so as to contribute to the decision making withrespect to the management of the organization.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] To leave the earth with a full of nature and green to the futuregenerations, it is essential to reduce bad effects (environmentalimpacts) on the environment. Hence, activities for reducing theenvironmental impacts are done at various organizations, such ascompanies, public organizations and the like.

[0005] To minimize the environmental impacts with high efficiency, it isimportant to know the environmental impacts at activities of theorganization. For example, it is necessary to obtain the environmentalimpacts (those environmental impacts at each operational process) in thelife cycle of products, using the idea of Eco-Balance.

[0006] Conventionally, there is no system for accurately obtaining theenvironmental impacts in the life cycle of the products. Thus, in manycases, the environmental conservation activities are done on the impulseor by individuals who personally care about the environment at theorganization.

[0007] It is impossible to invest an unlimited amount of money for theenvironmental conservation activities. Hence, it is desired that amaximum level of environmental conservation can be achieved with aminimum amount of investment, further that certain economical benefitscan be obtained.

[0008] However, the amount of investment (expenses) required for theenvironmental conservation activities at the organization and theeffects thereof can not easily be shown on the financial analysis, andhence can not objectively be analyzed. Therefore, while promoting theenvironmental conservation activities at the organization, there hasbeen a lack of information for determining how much amount of investmentshould be made to a particular field of the activities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of theabove. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide asystem, method, recording medium, and computer data signal, forefficiently minimizing environmental impacts and facilitating activitiesfor gaining the economical benefit.

[0010] Another object thereof is to provide a system, method, recordingmedium and computer data signal, for facilitating the appropriatedecision making with respect to the management regarding environmentalmatters, thereby contributing to a reduction in the environmentalimpacts.

[0011] Still another object thereof is to provide a system, method,recording medium and data signal, for obtaining environmental impacts ina product's life cycle, and for use in the environmental conservationactivities and decision making with respect to the management of anorganization.

[0012] Still yet another object thereof is to provide a system, method,recording medium and computer data signal, for obtaining expenses forenvironmental conservation and effects thereof, and for use in theenvironmental management.

[0013] In order to accomplish the above objects, according to the firstaspect of the present invention, an environmental impact informationsystem comprising:

[0014] an environmental impact information obtaining unit which obtainsenvironmental impact information regarding an environmental impact at aplurality of processes included in activities of an organization;

[0015] an environmental impact information collector which collects theenvironmental impact information obtained by the environmental impactinformation obtaining unit; and

[0016] an environmental impact information analyzer which analyzes theenvironmental impact information collected by the environmental impactinformation collector, and obtains an reduction amount of theenvironmental impact.

[0017] According to this invention, the environmental impact informationobtaining unit obtains environmental impact information regardingenvironmental impacts, for example, at a designing process, amanufacturing process, a distribution/sales process, a usage process(while products are used), a maintenance process and acollection/recycling process which are all included in the businessactivities. The environmental impact information collector collects theenvironmental impact information obtained by the environmental impactinformation obtaining unit, through a network, for example. Theenvironmental impact information analyzer analyzes the environmentalimpact information collected by the environmental impact informationcollector, and obtains a set of environmental impacts in a product'slife cycle. As a result of this, the system of this invention canacquire the set of environmental impacts in a product's life cycle, andrefers to information representing the environmental impacts, so as tofacilitate the decision making with respect to the management andenvironmental conservation activities.

[0018] The environmental impact information system may further include

[0019] a chemical material information memory unit which stores inadvance chemical-material information regarding chemical materialsincluded in a plurality of to-be-supplied materials to be used formanufacturing products, and

[0020] wherein the environmental impact information obtaining unitspecifies each of the to-be-supplied materials to be used formanufacturing products, and reads out the chemical-material informationcorresponding to the specified to-be-supplied materials from thechemical material information memory unit.

[0021] The environmental impact information obtaining unit may measurean amount of consumed electricity, an amount of consumed fossil fuel, anamount of consumed water, an amount of consumed chemical materials, anexhaust amount of exhaust gas and an exhaust amount of waste whileproducts are manufactured.

[0022] The environmental impact information obtaining unit may measurean amount of used fuel and an exhaust amount of exhaust gas whileproducts are transported.

[0023] The environmental impact information obtaining unit may measureinformation representing a status of products.

[0024] The environmental impact information obtaining unit may measurean amount of consumed electricity, an amount of consumed fossil fuel, anamount of used water, an amount of used chemical materials, an exhaustamount of exhaust gas, an amount of waste, and an amount of maintenancein a predetermined unit while maintenance is performed for products.

[0025] The environmental impact information obtaining unit may measurean amount of consumed fuel and an exhaust amount of exhaust gas whileproducts are being collected, and measure also information representinga recycling status of the collected products.

[0026] In order to achieve the above objects, according to the secondaspect of the present invention, there is provided an environmentalimpact information system comprising:

[0027] environmental impact information obtaining means for obtainingenvironmental impact information regarding an environmental impact at aplurality of processes included in activities of an organization;

[0028] environmental impact information collection means for collectingthe environmental impact information obtained by the environmentalimpact information obtaining means;

[0029] environmental impact information analyzing means for analyzingthe environmental impact information collected by the environmentalimpact information collection means, and obtaining a set ofenvironmental impacts in a product's life cycle; and

[0030] report information generation means for generating reportinformation in a predetermined format, based on the environmental impactinformation collected by the environmental impact information collectionmeans and information representing the set of environmental impactsobtained by the environmental impact information analyzing means.

[0031] According to this invention, the environmental impact informationobtaining means obtains environmental impact information regardingenvironmental impacts, for example, at a designing process, amanufacturing process, a distribution/sales process, a usage process(while products are used), a maintenance process and acollection/recycling process which are all included in the businessactivities. The environmental impact information collection meanscollects the obtained environmental impact information, through anetwork, for example. The environmental impact information analyzingmeans analyzes the collected environmental impact information, andobtains a set of environmental impacts in a product's life cycle. Thereport information generation means generates report information in apredetermined format, based on the environmental impact informationcollected by the environmental impact information collection means andinformation representing the set of environmental impacts obtained bythe environmental impact information obtaining means. As a result ofthis, the system of this invention can acquire information representingthe environmental impacts in the product's life cycle and refer to theacquired information, thereby contributing to the environmentalconservation activities and the decision making with respect to themanagement of the organization.

[0032] In order to achieve the above objects, according to the thirdaspect of the present invention, there is provided an environmentalimpact information system including a plurality of process managementdevices for managing a plurality of processes included in activities ofan organization and an environmental management device which areconnected with each other through a predetermined network, and wherein:

[0033] each of the process management devices obtains environmentalimpact information regarding an environmental impact at each of theprocesses; and

[0034] the environmental management device collects the environmentalimpact information obtained by each of the process management devicesthrough a network, and obtains a set of environmental impacts in aproduct's life cycle based on the collected environmental impactinformation.

[0035] According to this invention, each of the process managementdevices obtains environmental impact information regarding environmentalimpacts, for example, at a designing process, a manufacturing process, adistribution/sales process, a usage process (while products are used), amaintenance process and a collection/recycling process which are allincluded in the business activities. The environmental management devicecollects the obtained environmental impact information, through anetwork, for example, and obtains a set of environmental impacts in aproduct's life cycle based on the collected information. As a result ofthis, the system of this invention can acquire the set of environmentalimpacts at the product's life cycle, thereby facilitating theenvironmental conservation activities and decision making on thebusiness management.

[0036] The process management device may obtain information regardingchemical materials included in materials to be used for manufacturingproducts.

[0037] The process management device may measure an amount of usedelectricity, an amount of used fossil fuel, an amount of used water, anamount of used chemical materials, an exhaust amount of exhaust gas, andan exhaust amount of waste while products are manufactured.

[0038] The process management device may measure an amount of consumedfuel and an exhaust amount of exhaust gas while products aretransported.

[0039] The process management device may measure informationrepresenting a status of each product.

[0040] The process management device may measure an amount of usedelectricity, an amount of used fossil fuel, an amount of used water, anamount of used chemical materials, an exhaust amount of exhaust gas, anexhaust amount of waste, and an amount of maintenance in a predeterminedunit while maintenance is performed for products.

[0041] The process management device may measure informationrepresenting an amount of consumed fuel and an exhaust amount of exhaustgas while products are being collected and information representing arecycling status of the collected products.

[0042] In order to achieve the above objects, according to the fourthaspect of the present invention, there is provided an environmentalimpact information system, including a process management device formanaging a plurality of processes included in activities of anorganization and an environmental management device which are connectedwith each other through a predetermined network, and wherein:

[0043] the process management device includes environmental impactinformation obtaining means for obtaining environmental impactinformation regarding an environmental impact at each of the pluralityof processes;

[0044] the environmental management device includes

[0045] an environmental impact information collection means forcollecting the environmental impact information which is obtained by theenvironmental impact information obtaining means, and

[0046] an environmental impact analyzing means for analyzing theenvironmental impact information collected by the environmental impactinformation collection means, and obtaining a set of environmentalimpacts in a product's life cycle; and

[0047] report information generation means for generating reportinformation in a predetermined format, based on the environmental impactinformation collected by the environmental impact information collectionmeans and information representing the set of environmental impactsobtained by the environmental impact information analyzing means.

[0048] According to this invention, each of the process managementdevice includes the environmental impact information obtaining means forobtaining environmental impact information regarding environmentalimpacts, for example, at a designing process, a manufacturing process, adistribution/sales process, a usage process (while products are used), amaintenance process and a collection/recycling process which are allincluded in the business activities. The environmental impactinformation collection means collects the obtained environmental impactinformation, through a network, for example. The environmental impactinformation analyzing means analyzes the collected environmental impactinformation, and obtains a set of environmental impacts in a product'slife cycle. The report information generation means generates reportinformation in a predetermined format, based on the environmental impactinformation collected by the environmental impact information collectionmeans and information representing the environmental impacts obtained bythe environmental impact information analyzing means. As a result ofthis, the system of this invention can acquire the environmental impactsin the product's life cycle, thereby facilitating the environmentalconservation activities and contributing to the decision making on thebusiness management.

[0049] In order to achieve the above object, according to the fifthaspect of the present invention, there is provided a method forproviding environmental impact information, the method comprising thesteps of:

[0050] obtaining environmental impact information regarding anenvironmental impact at each of a plurality of processes included inactivities of an organization;

[0051] collecting the environmental impact information obtained at theobtaining step;

[0052] analyzing a set of environmental impacts in a product's lifecycle, based on the environmental impact information collected at thecollecting step; and

[0053] providing information regarding the set of environmental impactsobtained at the analyzing step.

[0054] According to this invention, the environmental impact informationobtaining step obtains environmental impact information regardingenvironmental impacts, for example, at a designing process, amanufacturing process, a distribution/sales process, a usage process(while products are used), a maintenance process and acollection/recycling process which are all included in the businessactivities. The environmental impact information collecting stepcollects the obtained environmental impact information, through anetwork, for example. The environmental impact information analyzingstep analyzes the collected environmental impact information, andobtains a set of environmental impacts in a product's life cycle. Theenvironmental impact information providing step provides, in the form ofa report for use in decision making with respect to the businessmanagement, information representing the environmental impacts obtainedat the analyzing step. As a result of this, the system of this inventioncan acquire information representing the environmental impacts in theproduct's life cycle, thereby facilitating the environmentalconservation activities and contributing to the decision making on thebusiness management.

[0055] In order to achieve the above objects, according to the sixthaspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readablerecording medium which records a program for controlling a computer toexecute a method for providing environmental impact information, themethod comprising the steps of:

[0056] obtaining environmental impact information regarding anenvironmental impact at each of a plurality of processes included inactivities of an organization;

[0057] collecting the environmental impact information obtained at theobtaining step;

[0058] analyzing a set of environmental impacts in a product's lifecycle, based on the environmental impact information collected at thecollecting step; and

[0059] providing information regarding the set of environmental impactsobtained at the analyzing step.

[0060] In order to achieve the above objects, according to the seventhaspect of the present invention, there is provided a data signalembedded in a carrier wave and representing an instruction sequence forcontrolling a computer to execute a method for providing environmentalimpact information, the method comprising the steps of:

[0061] obtaining environmental impact information regarding anenvironmental impact at each of a plurality of processes included inactivities of an organization;

[0062] collecting the environmental impact information obtained at theobtaining step;

[0063] analyzing a set of environmental impacts in a product's lifecycle, based on the environmental impact information collected at thecollecting step; and

[0064] providing information regarding the set of environmental impactsobtained at the analyzing step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] These objects and other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon reading of the followingdetailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0066]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of anenvironmental-impact information system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0067]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of asuppliable-material information system;

[0068]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a Web page (menu page)to be provided by the suppliable-material information system;

[0069]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a Web page(register/correct images) to be provided by the suppliable-materialinformation system;

[0070]FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of a form for registeringspecification information of materials, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showingan example of a form for registering chemical material information;

[0071]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a list of chemicalmaterials to be registered in a suppliable-material information DB;

[0072]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of master information to beregistered in the suppliable-material information DB;

[0073]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of detail descriptioninformation to be registered in the suppliable-material information DB;

[0074]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of law-regulationinformation to be managed by a law-regulation DB;

[0075]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of adesigning information system;

[0076]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of chemical materialinformation according to product type;

[0077]FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of amanufacture information system;

[0078]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of information regardingexhaust amounts of waste, collected according to each section forpredetermined period of time;

[0079]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of informationrepresenting types of chemical materials to be employed and an exampleof information which is collected according to each building for apredetermined period of time;

[0080]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of astatus information system;

[0081]FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of an input display forinputting expenses for environmental conservation;

[0082]FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow forexplaining operations of the environmental-impact information system;

[0083]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of an environmentalaccounting process to be carried out by an environmental accountingsystem; and

[0084]FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a state where theenvironmental accounting system extracts one or more reasonableinvestment plans from a plurality of investment plans.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0085] An environmental-impact information system according to anembodiment of the present invention will now be explained with referenceto the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structureof an environmental-impact information system 10 of this embodiment.

[0086] The environmental-impact information system 10 integrally managesinformation representing environmental impacts on the environment as aresult of activities of an organization (corporation, publicorganization, association, etc.), and uses the information forenvironmental management at the organization. As shown in FIG. 1, theenvironmental-impact information system 10 comprises asuppliable-material information system 21, a law-regulation DB 23, adesigning-information system 25, a manufacture-information system 27, adistribution/sales information system 29, a status-information system31, a maintenance-information system 33, acollection/recycling-information system 35, a management-informationsystem 37, an environmental-impact information collection system 39, apublication system 41, and an environmental accounting system 43, whichare all connected with each other through an Intranet 11.

[0087] The suppliable-material information system 21 collectsinformation representing the chemical composition or environmentalimpact as a result of materials or parts supplied by the organizationfrom distributors, and registers the collected information in adatabase.

[0088] The law-regulation DB 23 stores various laws, regulations,criteria, and the like, relating to the environmental matters. Thelaw-regulation DB 23 stores requirements and criteria for variousenvironmental standards (approval for environmental matters).

[0089] The designing-information system 25 designs various products, andmanages information regarding chemical materials to be employed inmanufacturing products.

[0090] The manufacture-information system 27 calculates an environmentalimpact at points where products are manufactured, and quantitativelymanages information representing the environmental impact duringmanufacturing processes.

[0091] The distribution/sales information system 29 calculatesenvironmental impacts at points where products are distributed and sold,and quantitatively manages information representing the environmentalimpacts during distribution/sales processes.

[0092] The status-information system 31 calculates environmental impactsat the time any sold or rented products are used, and quantitativelymanages the environmental impacts during their usage.

[0093] The maintenance-information system 33 calculates environmentalimpact at a point where maintenance for the sold or rented products isperformed, and quantitatively manages the environmental impacts duringthe maintenance processes.

[0094] The collection/recycling-information system 35 calculatesenvironmental impacts at points where the sold or rented products arecollected and recycled, and quantitatively manages the environmentalimpacts during collection/recycling processes.

[0095] The management-information system 37 manages personnelinformation, account information, and general-affair information, andthe like of the organization. The management-information system 37includes, for example, a personnel system, an account system, etc. Themanagement-information system 37 calculates the sales and benefitregarding, for example, each product model, and collects informationrepresenting staff in charge of a predetermined product and informationrepresenting a purpose in using a particular building, factory, etc.

[0096] The environmental-impact information collection system 39collects information (environmental impact information, etc.) relatingto the environment from the suppliable-material information system 21,designing-information system 25, manufacture-information system 27,distribution/sales-information system 29, status-information system 31,maintenance-information system 33, collection/recycling-informationsystem 35, and management-information system 37 through the Intranet 11.The environmental-impact information system 39 then registers thecollected information in the environmental information DB 391. Theenvironmental-impact information system 39 manages information regardingthe environmental impact through the activities at the organization,based on the information registered in the environmental information DB391.

[0097] The publication system 41 creates various environment reportsbased on the information collected by the environmental-impactinformation collection system 39.

[0098] The environmental accounting system 43 collects informationrepresenting the investment (cost) for activities on environmentalconservation and information regarding the effect of the activities, andcarries out an environmental accounting process based on the collectedinformation. The environmental accounting system 43 disclosesinformation obtained by performing the accounting process, to theexecutives or managers of the organization. That is, the environmentalaccounting system 43 discloses the information of “the cost vs. effectof the activities on the environmental conservation” which can be usedby the executives for decision making, and manages appropriate projectson the environmental investment.

[0099] Each system included in the environmental-impact informationsystem 10 will now specifically be described.

[0100] The suppliable-material information system 21 includes a WWWserver 211, a suppliable-material information DB 213, and achemical-material DB 215, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0101] The WWW server 211 is connected to a plurality of user terminals111 installed in the organization, through the Intranet 11. The WWWserver 211 is connected also to the Internet 12 through anon-illustrative firewall. The WWW server 211 can be accessed by aplurality of distributor terminals 113 through the Internet 12.

[0102] The WWW server 211 stores a plurality of Web pages (can createWeb pages), and, in response to accessing the WWW server 211 by a userterminal 111 or distributor terminal 113 having the Web browser,provides the user terminal 111 or distributor terminal 113 with acorresponding Web page.

[0103] For example, the WWW server 211 extracts necessary informationfrom the suppliable-material information DB 213 and/or chemical-materialDB 215, using a CGI (Common Gateway Interface). Then, the WWW server 211creates the Web page, and provides the user terminal 111 or distributorterminal 113 with the created Web page. Upon operation or inputting ofbuttons on the Web page on the user terminal 111 or distributor terminal113, the WWW server 211 reads out target information stored in thesuppliable-material information DB 213, etc., and registers (updates)predetermined information in the suppliable-material information DB 213.

[0104] The suppliable-material information DB 213 manages informationrepresenting specifications or chemical composition of materials orparts which a distributor wishes to distribute to the organization.

[0105] Particularly, the suppliable-material information DB 213 storesinformation sent from the distributor terminal 113 through the WWWserver 211, as temporarily registered information. The temporarilyregistered information is referred by an inspector of a predeterminedsection in the organization. If the materials or parts shown in thetemporarily registered information are accepted by the inspector, thesuppliable-material information DB 213 manages this information as“registered information”, and sends this information to the userterminal 111 in response to a request therefrom.

[0106] The chemical-material DB 215 manages information regardingvarious chemical materials. The chemical material DB 215 storesinformation corresponding to the information (registered information)stored in the suppliable-material information DB 213, and is accessed bythe WWW server 211.

[0107]FIG. 3 shows an example of a Web page (menu page) stored in(created by) the WWW server 211. This Web page is displayed by a displayunit (Web browser) included in the user terminal 111 and distributorterminal 113 having accessed the WWW server 211.

[0108] For example, in the case where the distributor wishes to newlydistribute materials or parts to the organization, the distributoroperates the distributor terminal 113 to access the WWW server 211, andcontrols the display unit to display the Web page shown in FIG. 3. Ifthe distributor operates a mouse, etc., and clicks on a button “Menu forDistributor” included in the Web page shown in FIG. 3, the WWW server211 provides the distributor terminal 113 with a Web page(register/correct images) shown in FIG. 4.

[0109] The distributor operates the mouse, etc., and selects either oneof “Chemical Material” and “Parts” and either one of “New Registration”and “Correct/Update”, and clicks on a button “Send”, on the Web pageillustrated in FIG. 4.

[0110] Upon selection of “Chemical Material” and “New Registration” onthe side of the distributor terminal 113, the WWW server 211 creates aform for registering the material specifications and chemical materialinformation, and the like, and provides the distributor terminal 113with the crated form as a Web page. Particularly, the WWW server 211provides the distributor terminal 113 with Web pages in the formsrespectively shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

[0111] The distributor inputs material specification information, suchas material names, characteristics (specifications), etc., in thecreated form on the Web page shown in FIG. 5A. Subsequently, thedistributor also inputs the chemical material information, such as MSDS(Material Safety Data Sheet), etc., in the Web page shown in FIG. 5B,and clicks on a predetermined “Send” button.

[0112] Upon reception of the chemical material information, etc. fromthe distributor terminal 113, the WWW server 211 stores the receivedchemical material information in a “temporary registration area” to beinspected, in the suppliable-material information DB 213.

[0113] If the chemical material information, etc. is stored in the“temporary registration area”, the staff in charge of the environmentalmatters in a section (e.g. social and environmental section) of theorganization operates the user terminal 111 to access the WWW server211, and inspects the temporarily registered information. Specifically,the user terminal 111 verifies whether the user has the properauthority. After this, the user terminal 111 reads out the informationregistered in the “temporary registration area” of thesuppliable-material information DB 213 through the WWW server 211, anddisplays the read information on the display unit. The staff in chargeof the environmental matters inspects the displayed information, inconsideration of the product (materials, parts) cost and reliability,and also from the aspect of the labor force, the environmental impact,etc.

[0114] If the materials or parts specified by the temporarily registeredinformation are accepted, the WWW server 211 transfers the targetinformation from the “temporary registration area” into a “registrationarea” of the suppliable-material information DB 213, and stores theinformation thereinto, in response to accessing the WWW server 211 bythe user terminal 111.

[0115] Specifically, the WWW server 211 adds target chemical-materialinformation, etc., into a list of FIG. 6 which is stored in the“registration area” of the suppliable-material information DB 213.Further, the WWW server 211 creates master information of the acceptedmaterials or parts as shown in FIG. 7 and detail description informationthereof as shown in FIG. 8. Then, the WWW server 211 stores the createdinformation in the suppliable-material information DB 213.

[0116]FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing examples of the masterinformation and detail description information in association with “OMRexfoliating agent 123” included in the list of FIG. 6. The masterinformation shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to “OMR exfoliating agent” shownin FIG. 6, and is composed of the following eighteen items of “1. Nameof Chemical Product”, “2. Chemical Composition”, “3. DecompositionCompound”, “4. Unnecessary Impurities”, “5. Physical/ChemicalCharacteristics”, “6. Hazard Information”, “7. Environmental ImpactInformation”, “8. Toxic Material Information”, “9. Classification ofHazardous/Toxic Materials”, “10. First Aid”, “11. Needs In Case ofFire”, “12. Action Against Leakage of Chemical Compounds”, “13.Instructions for Storage and Handling”, “14. Action for PreventingLeakage of Chemical Compounds”, “15. Instructions for Waste”, “16.Instructions for Transportation”, “17. MSDS and PLP Law RegulationItems”, and “18. Other Information”.

[0117] The detail description information shown in FIG. 8 specificallyrepresents information of the item of “2. Chemical Composition”, andcorresponds to this item. Detail information regarding the rest of theseventeen items can similarly be created, and stored in thesuppliable-material information DB 213. It is not necessary to createthe detail description information of the all items. Those items may belinked to the general chemical information registered in the chemicalmaterial DB 215, so that their description information can thus beobtained.

[0118] On the contrary, in the case where the materials or partsspecified in the temporarily registered information are not accepted bythe inspector, the WWW server 211 informs the target distributorterminal 113 that the materials or parts can not be supplied(purchased), in response to accessing the WWW server 211 by the userterminal 111. Then, the WWW server 211 erases target chemical materialinformation, etc., from the “temporary registration area” of thesuppliable-material information DB 213.

[0119] Those information representing the accepted materials or partsand stored in the “registration area” of the suppliable-materialinformation DB 213 as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 are disclosed as registeredinformation by the WWW server 211, and can be provided to the userterminal 111 in response to a request therefrom.

[0120] For example, the person (designer) in charge of environmentalmatters in the organization operates the user terminal 111 to access theWWW server 211, and controls the display unit to display the Web pageshown in FIG. 3. After this, if the person operates the mouse, etc., toclick on a button “Menu for Staff” included in the Web page of FIG. 3,the WWW server 211 creates a Web page for selecting or searching formaterial(s) registered in the suppliable-material information DB 213,and provides the user terminal 111 with the created Web page.Specifically, the WWW server 211 reads out the list shown in FIG. 6 fromthe suppliable-material information DB 213, creates a Web page based onthe read information, and provides the user terminal 111 with thecreated Web page for selecting material(s).

[0121] The WWW server 211 provides the user terminal 111 with the Webpage showing the master information or detail description informationregarding the target materials, in accordance with the selection of theuser terminal 111.

[0122] Accordingly, the information regarding the materials or parts tobe employed in the organization is registered in the suppliable-materialinformation DB 213, after the materials or parts are inspected inconsideration of the environmental impact. The staff having the properauthority can refer to the registered information using the userterminal 111 (through the WWW server 211) at any time he/she wants.Hence, the staff can be aware of the specifications or chemicalcomposition, etc. of most of the materials or parts to be delivered intothe organization.

[0123] Referring back to FIG. 1, the law-regulation DB 23 managesinformation regarding laws or regulations relating to the environmentalmatters. Specifically, the law-regulation DB 23 stores informationrepresenting names of regulations or laws, fields of regulation, countrynames, and contents of regulations as shown in FIG. 9, and also storesdetail laws, regulations, rules, explanatory information, and managementinformation, and the like.

[0124] The law-regulation DB 23 manages information (conditions,standards, criteria, or the like) regarding various environmentalstandards (approval for environmental matters). Specifically, thelaw-regulation DB 23 manages information representing Type I (ISO14024),Type II (ISO14021), and Type III (ISO14025) of the environmentalstandards.

[0125] In Type I, target products and authorization standards areprescribed. Type I is a label which can be authorized by a third-partysystem. For example, “Eco-Mark” (Japan Environmental Association)employed in Japan and “Blue Angel Mark” (Germany Environment Agency) inGermany come under Type I.

[0126] Type II is a label regarding the betterment of the environment bythe effect of some products and services.

[0127] Type III is a label quantitatively indicates the environmentalimpact by the effect of a particular product.

[0128] Upon accessing the law-regulation DB 23 by a terminal of thestaff through the Intranet 11, the law-regulation DB 23 performs apredetermined verification process for verifying the proper authority ofthe staff, and provides the terminal with requested informationrepresenting laws and/or environmental standards. Hence, the staff ofthe organization can easily be aware of the minimum requirements,conditions, or the like, which a target product needs to satisfy.

[0129] The designing information DB 25 includes a plurality of terminals251 for designing, a server 253, and a designing-information DB 255, asshown in FIG. 10.

[0130] Each of the terminals 251 for designing includes, for example, aCAD system or the like having the Web browser, and is connected to theserver 253 through the Intranet 11. The terminals 251 for designing areconnected also to the WWW server 211 of the above-describedsuppliable-material-information system 21 through the Intranet 11. Inother words, the designer operating each of the terminals 251 can accessthe suppliable-material information DB 213 through the Intranet 11 (theWWW server 211). The designer refers to the master information or detaildescription information of FIG. 7 or 8, selects materials or parts, anddesigns a product, in consideration of the environmental impact or toxicproperties of materials.

[0131] Once the designer selects materials or parts using the terminal251, and designs the product on the basis of the selected materials orparts, the server 253 creates a list of chemical materials to beemployed in the product.

[0132] Specifically, the server 253 refers to the chemical-materialinformation registered in the suppliable-material information DB 213,based on information representing the materials (parts type) and weight(quantity) and which is sent from the terminal 251, and creates a listof materials, as shown in FIG. 11. The server 253 creates a Web pageincluding the created list, and provides the terminal 251 with thecreated Web page.

[0133] When to design a product using the terminal 251, the designer canobtain a list of chemical materials for use in manufacturing theproduct. The designer can collect information regarding the chemicalmaterials or toxic substances to be used, from the list, and can acquirethe quantitative data of the environmental impact by the effect of theproduct.

[0134] For example, in the case where a product “A” designed by thedesigner of the terminal 251 is composed of “material 1”, “material 2”and the like, the server 253 refers to the suppliable-materialinformation DB 213, and creates a list of chemical materials of“material a1” and “material a2”. Once thus created list of chemicalmaterials is sent to the terminal 251, the designer can collectinformation regarding the chemical materials or toxic substances of“material a1” and “material a2”, and can acquire the quantitative dataof the environmental impact by the effect of the product A.

[0135] While designing the product, if “material a1” is switched to“material b1”, the server 253 creates a list of “material b1” and“material a2”, and provides the terminal 251 with the created list.Hence, the designer can compare the chemical materials or toxicsubstances included in the product A before the switching, with thoseincluded in the product A after the switching.

[0136] Once the product is thus completely designed, the server 253creates PLP (Product Liability Prevention) evaluation information, inresponse to accessing the server 253 by the terminal 251. Specifically,the server 253 collects and creates the PLP evaluation informationincluding the component materials, country(s) selling the materials,reliable data in the environmental matters and product MADS informationand the like, from the material specification information and chemicalmaterial information (the suppliable-material information DB 213).

[0137] Thus created PLP evaluation information is stored in thedesigning-information DB 255, and can be provided to the staff havingthe proper authority through the server 253, in response to a requesttherefrom. For example, the boss of the designer operates the terminal,refers to the PLP evaluation information regarding a target product(s)and managed by the designing information DB 255, and inspects thedesigning contents of the target product(s). At this time, the bossrefers also to the regulations or standards stored in the law-regulationDB 23, and ascertains that the target product meets the regulationsregarding the environmental matters and the standards.

[0138] Thus, the boss of the designer inspects the designing contents ofthe product, and can determine whether to approve the product, inconsideration of the environmental matters or reliability of the productfrom the aspects of the environmental standards.

[0139] The manufacture-information system 27 comprises, as shown in FIG.12, a plurality of sensors 271, a waste measurement system 273, a datacollection server 275, a manufacture-information DB 277, and a userterminal 279. The manufacture-information system 27 is installed in eachorganization having, for example, a non-manufacture section.

[0140] Each of the plurality of sensors 271 may be a power meter, watermeter, exhaust gas meter, exhaust gas densimeter, etc. That is, thesensor 271 serving as a power meter obtains the amount of utilized powerat a place (factory, office, etc) manufacturing products, based onmeasured data. The sensor 271 serving as a water meter obtains theamount of utilized water and the amount of drained water, based onmeasured data. The sensor 271 serving as an exhaust gas meter obtainsthe amount of exhaust gas, based on measured data. The sensor 271serving as an exhaust gas densimeter obtains the CO₂ concentration,NO_(x) concentration, and SO_(x) concentration in exhaust gas.

[0141] Each of the sensors 271 supplies the data collection server 275with the measured data. The data collection server 275 multiplies themeasured value of the flow amount of exhaust gas by the measured valueof the density of exhaust gas, which are sent from the correspondingsensors 271, thereby obtaining the exhaust amounts of CO₂, NO_(x), andSO_(x) at the place during the manufacture of the products.

[0142] The waste measurement system 273 includes a calculator, aterminal and the like, measures the weight of industrial waste, andregisters information representing the waste name (or its ID) and theweight thereof in association with each other. The chemical informationregarding the products or parts is registered in the above-describeddesigning-information DB 255 during a designing process. Thus, the wastemeasurement system 273 can specify target products to be wasted, bymeasuring the weight, and can obtain the amount of chemical materials tobe wasted. The waste measurement system 273 supplies the data collectionserver 275 with the measured information.

[0143] The data collection server 275 registers information sent fromeach sensor 271 and waste measurement system 273, in the manufactureinformation DB 277.

[0144] The data collection server 275 manages the usage context offossil fuel at the organization during the manufacture process and theusage context of chemical materials. Specifically, the data collectionserver 275 obtains, from the user terminal 279, information regardingthe amount (or purchase record) of utilized fossil fuel, such asgasoline, fuel oil, light oil, etc., and information regarding theamount (or purchase record) of the utilized chemical materials.Subsequently, the data collection server 275 registers thus obtainedinformation in the manufacture information DB 277.

[0145] The manufacture information DB 277 manages informationrepresenting: the usage amount of various resources (amount of utilizedelectricity, amount of utilized fossil fuel, amount of utilized water,and amount of utilized chemical materials); exhaust amount of waste;exhaust amount of CO₂, NO_(x), and SO_(x); exhaust amount of materialsto the sea; exhaust amount of materials to the air; exhaust amount ofmaterials to be polluting the sea; and chemical materials. Suchinformation represents the above aspects of the organization during themanufacture of products, and is registered in the manufactureinformation DB 277 through the data collection server 275. Themanufacture information DB 277 manages the above information inassociation with each organization.

[0146] The data collection server 275 refers to the information managedby the manufacture information DB 277, and creates informationrepresenting exhaust amounts of waste which are obtained according toeach section and predetermined period of time, as shown in FIG. 13.Similarly, the data collection server 275 creates informationrepresenting types and amounts of used chemical materials which areobtained according to each building and predetermined period of time, asshown in FIG. 14.

[0147] The distribution/sales information system 29 manages theenvironmental impact at processes of distributing/selling products.Specifically, the distribution/sales information system 29 obtains thenumber of transportation means, the number of products transported byone transportation means and the conveying distance of the products, andobtains an exhaust amount of exhaust gas and the consumption of fuelduring the processes of distributing/selling the products.

[0148] Specifically, the distribution/sales information system 29 storesin advance the relationship between each transportation means (e.g. a2-ton truck, 5-ton truck, freight train, ship, etc.), the consumption offuel per unit distance, and the exhaust amount (e.g. CO₂, NO_(x),SO_(x), etc.) of exhaust gas. The distribution/sales information system29 obtains the number of the transportation means, the conveyingdistance, and the number of conveyed products, and obtains theconsumption of fuel and the exhaust amount of exhaust gas.

[0149] For example, the distribution/sales information system 29 obtainsinformation employed transportation means, the distance of the productsto be transported, and the number of products are transported, during adistribution process of transporting products from a predeterminedfactory to warehouse and further transporting the products from thewarehouse to stores and also during a sales process of conveyingproducts from the stores to predetermined places requested by users,respectively. The distribution/sales information system 29 obtains theconsumption of fuel and exhaust amount of exhaust gas at thedistribution and sales processes, based on the relationship among thecalculated transportation means, the consumption of fuel per unittransportation distance and the exhaust amount of exhaust gas.

[0150] The distribution/sales information system 29 obtains and managesinformation representing the amount of utilized electricity at pointswhere the products are distributed, the amount of utilized water, theamount of utilized fossil fuel (or the amount of purchased fossil fuel),the amount of utilized chemical materials (or the amount of purchasedmaterials), and types and weight waste. In addition, thedistribution/sales information system 29 obtains and manages informationrepresenting the consumption of electricity and/or the consumption ofutilized water resources at points where the products are sold (e.g.stores).

[0151] Likewise the above-described manufacture information system 27(the data collection server 275), the distribution/sales informationsystem 29 can create information representing the obtained amount ofexhausted waste, as shown in FIG. 13, and information representing theobtained types and weight of utilized chemical materials, as shown inFIG. 14.

[0152] The status-information system 31 obtains data representing theusage context of sold or rented products, and manages informationrepresenting their environmental impact in the state where the productsare used. Specifically, the status-information system 31 includes, asshown in FIG. 15, a plurality of sensor 311, a collection/communicationsdevice 313, and a center 317.

[0153] The plurality of sensors 311 are installed respectively in targetproducts to be monitored, and include various sensors for measuring theoperational context of their corresponding product. For example, in thecase where the target products to be monitored are office apparatuses,the sensors 311 serve as a power meter, a paper counter, and a tonercounter, etc., respectively.

[0154] Each of the plurality of sensors 311 monitors and observes theusage context of each product, and provides thecollection/communications device 313 with information representing theobserved results.

[0155] The collection/communications device 313 collects and storesinformation representing the usage context of each product which isobserved by each of the sensors 311. The collection/communicationsdevice 313 sends the stored information to the center 317 through theInternet 12 (or a public telephone line), in response to a pollingsignal therefrom.

[0156] The center 317 acquires the information sent from thecollection/communications device 313, and collects the informationrepresenting the usage context of each product. Specifically, the center317 classifies the information representing the usage contents accordingto product, product type and user, thereby registering the classifiedinformation in a predetermined database.

[0157] The maintenance-information system 33 collects data necessary fora maintenance process for taking measures to ensure that a predeterminedsold/rented product is functioning properly. Particularly, themaintenance-information system 33 obtains the total number of times themaintenance process is performed (the total number of times the entirestaff have visited the customers for the maintenance process) and thenumber of times the maintenance process is performed for each type ofproduct possessed/rented by the customers, at maintenance points wherethe maintenance process is performed for the products. In the case wherea part(s) needs to be replaced with a new one during the maintenanceprocess, the maintenance-information system 33 collects and managesinformation regarding the part(s) to be replaced.

[0158] Likewise the above-described manufacture-information system 27and the like, the maintenance-information system 33 manages informationrepresenting the consumption of power, the consumption of utilized waterresources, the consumption of paper resources, the consumption of fossilfuel resources, and types and weight of waste.

[0159] The maintenance-information system 33 obtains the proportion ofeach number of times the maintenance process is performed for each typeof product, to the total number of times the maintenance process isperformed. The maintenance-information system 33 multiplies the value ofthe entire environmental impact at the maintenance process, by the aboveobtained proportion, thereby obtaining the environmental impact at themaintenance process to be performed for each type of product.

[0160] For example, in the case where the number of times themaintenance process is performed for a type of device A is one third ofthe total number of times and where the amount of gasoline used at themaintenance process is expressed as B, the maintenance-informationsystem 33 calculates the environmental impact on the basis of that theamount of gasoline utilized for performing the maintenance process forthe type of device A is B/3.

[0161] The collection/recycling information system 35 collectsinformation regarding collection/recycling of products according toproduct type, thereby managing information representing theenvironmental impact at the collection/recycling process.

[0162] Specifically, the collection/recycling information system 35collects information on how collected products (component parts) arerecycled.

[0163] Usually, those collected products are examined by the staff ofthe organization, and some of the collected products are selected asrecyclable products (so-called “second-hand” products). On the otherhand, some of the collected products which can not be the recyclableproducts are taken apart, and parts of the products are examined. Someof the parts included in each product may be recyclable so as to be sentto the manufacture section or the organization.

[0164] Of those non-recyclable parts, those crushable parts can berecycled as materials. For example, if some crushable parts are metal,they can become metallurgical metal using a metallurgical process. Oilyproducts can be decomposed, formed to be chemical materials, and formedto be solid fuel (e.g. solid fuel as a reducing agent in a furnace,etc.), thereby achieving to get thermal energy by burning the processedoily products.

[0165] The collection/recycling information system 35 acquiresinformation regarding this process for recycling the products, andmanages this information as “recycle information”.

[0166] Likewise the above-described manufacture information system 27,etc., the collection/recycling information system 35 manages informationrepresenting the consumption of electric power, consumption of waterresources, consumption of paper resources, consumption of fossil fuel,and type and weight of waste, at points where the products are collectedand/or recycled.

[0167] The collection/recycling information system 35 createsinformation representing the amount of recycled resources (datarepresenting the processed weight by each component), the recyclingpercentage, a list of parts (quantity and weight of parts), andtransportation data regarding parts which are transported so as to becollected, in accordance with the recycle information and theinformation representing the consumption data.

[0168] The management-information system 37 includes a personnelinformation system installed in the personnel section of theorganization, an accounting/financial information system installed inthe accounting section, and a general-affair information systeminstalled in the general affair section, for example. In this structure,the management-information system 37 manages the personnel information,accounting information, and general-affair information.

[0169] Specifically, the management-information system 37 refers to thepersonnel information, etc. to acquire information representing thestaff being involved with a plurality of products in association witheach other, and refers to the accounting information to acquireinformation representing the personnel expenses according to eachproduct type.

[0170] The management-information system 37 refers to the accountinginformation to acquire information representing expenses (investment)spent for the environmental conservation. At this time, themanagement-information system 37 obtains, as the costs (the investment),an area cost, an upstream and downstream cost, a management activitycost, a research and development cost, a social activity cost, and anenvironmental-damage cost, etc., based on the accounting information.

[0171] The area cost is a cost for controlling down the environmentalimpact, resulting from the manufacturing and selling of the products andany service activities done within the area of the organization. Thearea cost includes a cost for antipollution measures, a cost forplanting trees for protecting the global environment, and a cost forrecycling resources.

[0172] The upstream and downstream cost represents an amount of moneyspent (or to be spent) for controlling down the environmental impact,resulting from the manufacturing and selling products and serviceactivities, during upstream and/or down stream processes thereof.

[0173] The management activity cost represents an amount of money forperforming management activities for controlling down the environmentalimpact.

[0174] The research and development cost represents an amount of moneyfor performing the research and development activities for controllingdown the environmental impact.

[0175] The social activity cost represents an amount of money forperforming social activities for controlling down the environmentalimpact.

[0176] The environmental damage cost represents an amount of money fordealing with (repairing) the damaged environment.

[0177] Each of the above costs is input onto an input display shown inFIG. 16 in the management-information system 37, (financial/accountinginformation system). Data input onto the input display are categorizedinto corresponding one of the above costs, and added to the accountinginformation.

[0178] The management-information system 37 refers to the general-affairinformation to acquire information representing to what extent aplurality of buildings of factories are used for manufacturingcorresponding products, in association with each other.

[0179] The environmental-impact information collection system 39includes the environmental information DB 391, and periodically (e.g.every mid-night) collects information (the environmental-impactinformation, etc.) regarding the environmental matters which areseparately managed by each of the above systems (the suppliable-materialinformation system 21 to the management-information system 37). Theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 registers thecollected information in the environmental information DB 391, andmanages information regarding the environmental impact at the entireactivities.

[0180] The environmental-impact information collection system 39analyzes and modifies the information stored in the environmentalinformation DB 391, thereby creating information regarding variousmatters on the environmental impact. For example, theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 creates the usagecontext of chemical materials according to each factory, office, etc. inthe organization and also information representing chemical materialsincluded in each product. The environmental-impact informationcollection system 39 collects information representing the environmentalimpact, according to section, product, and process, and createsinformation regarding the recycling of products or parts.

[0181] If the environmental-impact information collection system 39 isaccessed by a terminal of an executive at the organization through theInternet 11, it carries out a predetermined verification process forverifying the proper authority of the executive, thereafter to providethe target terminal with requested information regarding the maters onthe environmental impact.

[0182] The publication system 41 creates various environmental reports,based on the information representing the matters on the environmentalimpact and created by the environmental-impact information collectionsystem 39.

[0183] Specifically, the publication system 41 stores formats(templates) of various environmental reports in advance, and creates anenvironmental report in accordance with a specified format.

[0184] For example, the publication system 41 stores a format of MSDS inthe form of a list according to product, a format (used in Japan) forenvironmental information according to product, an ISO format, an ANSIformat, and the like. The publication system 41 acquires informationcorresponding to the specified format from the environmental-impactinformation collection system 39 (the environmental information DB 391),creates a suitable environmental report, and prints and outputs thecreated report.

[0185] The environmental accounting system 43 manages informationrepresenting the investment for the environmental conservationactivities and their effects. The environmental accounting system 43separately manages the information representing the effects of theenvironmental conservation activities, into environmental and economicaleffects.

[0186] According to the environmental effect, indicated is an amount ofmaterials which is suitable for measuring a decrease or increase in theamount of environmental impact. For example, the environmental effectshows a reduction amount (kwh) in the power consumption or a reductionamount (ton) of CO₂, NO_(x), SO_(x), etc. On the other hand, accordingto the economical effect, indicated is a “monetary unit” for measuring abusiness benefit received by the organization as a result of theenvironmental conservation activities or for measuring a reduction inthe required expenses.

[0187] The economical effect can be subdivided into an effect which canbe calculated based on reliable information and an effect which can becalculated based on hypothetical assumption. The economical effect whichcan be obtained based on reliable information includes: a businessprofit derived by recycling the used products, etc. during manufactureprocesses; a cost reduction by saving energy during manufacture/serviceactivities; and a cost reduction by saving resources during manufactureprocesses or by carrying out recycling activities. The economical effectbased on hypothetical assumption includes an effect (an effect derivedby avoiding risks) which is accidentally derived and an estimationeffect of benefit contribution.

[0188] If the corresponding staff of the organization specifies aneffect (environmental conservation effect and economical effect) whichis directly or indirectly derived by the environmental conservationactivities, he/she operates a predetermined terminal, and registers thespecified effect in association with the investment contents in theenvironmental accounting system 43.

[0189] Operations of the environmental-impact information system 10having the above-described structure will now be explained withreference to a processing flow shown in FIG. 17.

[0190] The suppliable-material information system 21 examines chemicalmaterial information, etc. regarding materials or parts, then registersthe examined information in the suppliable-material information DB 213,and discloses the registered information to the public within theorganization (Step S1).

[0191] The suppliable-material information DB 213 stores, astemporarily-registered information, the chemical material informationsent from the distributor terminal 113 through the WWW server 211. Thustemporarily-registered information is sent to an examiner of eachsection by the WWW server 211. The examiner of each section examinesinformation regarding the cost, reliability, and environmental impact.If accepted by this examination, the suppliable-material information DB213 manages this information as registered information, and provides theuser terminal 111 with the chemical material information, in response toa request therefrom.

[0192] During designing processes, the designing-information system 25collects the information representing the environmental impact resultingfrom a product designed by a designer of the organization (Step S2).

[0193] The server 253 refers to the chemical material information, etc.registered in the suppliable-material information DB 213, based on thematerial information sent from the terminal 251, so as to create a listof chemical materials to be employed in manufacturing products. Uponcompletion of designing of products, the server 253 creates PLPevaluation information representing component materials, country(s)selling the product concerned, data representing the safeness in theenvironment, and product MADS information.

[0194] During manufacture processes, the manufacture information system27 collects information representing the environmental impact at pointswhere products are manufactured (Step S3).

[0195] The sensor 271 obtains the amount of electric power and the flowamount of exhaust gas at a factory or the like manufacturing products.The waste measurement system 273 specifies those products to be wasted,measures the amount of the waste, and obtains an amount of chemicalmaterials included in the wasted products. The data collection server275 registers, in the manufacture information DB 277, the informationobtained by the sensor 271 and waste measurement system 273 and theinformation representing the usage context of fossil fuel at the pointswhere the products are manufactured. The data collection server 275calculates the exhaust amount of waste according to each section andpredetermined range of period, based on the information registered inthe manufacture information DB 277, and obtains types and amounts ofused chemical materials according to each building and predeterminedrange of period.

[0196] During the distribution/sales processes, the distribution/salesinformation system 29 collects information representing theenvironmental impact at the time of transporting products andinformation representing the environmental impact at points whereproducts are distributed and sold (Step S4).

[0197] The sales information system 29 obtains the number of thetransportation means, the conveying distance of the products, and thenumber of conveyed products, and obtains also the consumption of fueland exhaust amount of exhaust gas during the distribution and salesprocesses. The sales information system 29 collects usage context offossil fuel at the distribution and sales points and usage context ofchemical materials.

[0198] While the products are used, the status information system 31obtains data representing the usage contest of sold products, andobtains information representing the environmental impact in the statewhere the sold products are used (Step S5).

[0199] The collection/communications device 313 collects and storesinformation representing the status of products observed by each of thesensors 311. The center 317 acquires this information sent from thecollection/communications device 313, and collects information regardingthe status of each product.

[0200] During the maintenance process, the maintenance informationsystem 33 collects the information representing the environmental impactat points where the maintenance is carried out (Step S6).

[0201] The maintenance information system 33 obtains the proportion ofthe number of times the maintenance process is performed for each typeof product to the total number of times the maintenance process isperformed (the total number of times the staff have visited thecustomers' to perform the maintenance process). The maintenanceinformation system 33 multiplies thus obtained proportion to the valueof the entire environmental impact at the maintenance process, therebyderiving the environmental impact at the maintenance process, accordingto each type of product. Further, the maintenance information system 33collects the usage context of fossil fuel and chemical materials atpoints where the maintenance process is performed.

[0202] At the collection/recycling process, thecollection/recycling-information system 35 acquires informationrepresenting the collection and recycling status by each product, andcollects the information representing the environmental impact at thetime of collecting/recycling products (Step S7).

[0203] The collection/recycling-information system 35 collects therecycling information of the collection products (the component parts).The collection/recycling-information system 35 collects informationrepresenting the usage context of fossil fuel and chemical materials ata point where they are collected or recycled. Thecollection/recycling-information system 35 obtains informationrepresenting resources to be recycled, based on the collectedinformation.

[0204] At the above-described processes, if each system collects theinformation representing the environmental impact, theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 retrieves thecollected information from each system, and stores the information inthe environmental information DB 391 (Step S8 to S13). In response to arequest from the terminal through the Intranet 11, the environmentalinformation DB 391 provides the terminal with the stored informationrepresenting the environmental impact.

[0205] The environmental-impact information collection system 39modifies and analyzes the stored information representing theenvironmental impact (Step S14).

[0206] Specifically, the environmental-impact information collectionsystem 39 modifies information as follows:

[0207] 1) The environmental-impact information collection system 39modifies information collected from the suppliable-material informationDB 213 (suppliable-material information system 21), obtainsspecification information of materials and chemical materials to besupplied, and obtains also information representing the safety standardsof each chemical material.

[0208] 2) The environmental-impact information collection system 39acquires information representing each chemical material and its amountincluded in each product, according to each product, from theinformation collected from the designing information system 25.

[0209] 3) The environmental-impact information collection system 39obtains information representing the environmental impact, according toeach factory, building, and section, from the information collected fromthe manufacture information system 27. The environmental-impactinformation collection system 39 obtains information representing theenvironmental impact at the point of manufacturing products, from theinformation collected from the manufacture information system 27. Notethat the environmental impact at the manufacturing of products maydirectly or indirectly be generated during the manufacture. Hence, theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 obtains theenvironmental impact from the information collected from themanagement-information system 37. In addition, the environmental-impactinformation collection system 39 divides the obtained environmentalimpact by occupied of the building, factory, etc. or the number of staffaccording to each product, thereby obtaining indirect environmentalimpact.

[0210] 4) The environmental-impact information collection system 39compiles statistics on the information collected from thedistribution/sales information system 29, and obtains the environmentalimpact at the distribution/sales points, according to each product. Notethat the environmental impact at the distribution/sales points maydirectly or indirectly be generated at the time of distributing/sellingproducts.

[0211] Specifically, the environmental impact to be directly generatedat the time of distribution process is generated when the products aretransported. For example, in the case where three types of products aretransported for a distance of 100 km using one 2-ton truck, theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 obtains theweights of the three types of products, and obtains also a value of theenvironmental impact at the time of transporting the products for thedistance of 100 km using the 2-ton truck. After this, theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 divides theobtained value of the environmental impact by each weight of product,thereby deriving the environmental impact at the time of transportingeach type of products.

[0212] On the other hand, for the environmental impact to be indirectlygenerated at the distribution process, the environmental-impactinformation collection system 39 multiplies the transportation cost foreach type of product by the sales obtained from themanagement-information system 37, so as to obtain the environmentalimpact according to each product.

[0213] 5) The environmental-impact information collection system 39complies statistics on the information acquired from themaintenance-information system 33. Subsequently, theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 obtains theproportion of the number of times the maintenance process is performedfor each product, to the total number of times (the total number oftimes the staff have performed the maintenance process), at eachmaintenance point. The environmental-impact information collectionsystem 39 divides the value of the environmental impact at themaintenance point by the obtained proportion, so as to obtain theenvironmental impact for each product at the maintenance point.

[0214] 6) The environmental-impact information collection system 39complies statistics on the information acquired from thecollection/recycling information acquired from thecollection/recycling-information system 35, so as to obtain theenvironmental impact at the point where the collection and/or recyclingis performed, according to each product. Specifically, theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 obtains a value ofthe environmental impact at the process of transporting recycledproducts, and obtains the environmental impact thereat. Theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 obtains a value ofthe environmental impact at the process of taking part and/ortransporting the parts which have been used as recycled parts. Theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 indicates a valueof the environmental impact at the process of transporting, takingapart, crushing and modifying parts, and obtains the environmentalimpact thereat. Similarly, the environmental-impact informationcollection system 39 obtains a value of the environmental impact at themetallurgical or oiling process, or at the process of generating solidfuel or thermal energy from parts, and obtains the environmental impactthereat. The environmental-impact information collection system 39divides the value of the entire environmental impact by each type ofproduct, in accordance with a recycling possibility of products,according to each type of product. The environmental-impact informationcollection system 39 then obtains the environmental impact at theprocess of collecting and recycling products, according to each type ofproduct. For the environmental impact to be indirectly generated, theenvironmental-impact information collection system 39 obtains the salesdata acquired from the management-information system 37, according toeach type of product.

[0215] Having performed the above processes of modifying theenvironmental impact information, the environmental-impact informationcollection system 39 obtains the environmental impact at each process,according to each type of product. Then, the environmental-impactinformation collection system 39 obtains a series of environmentalimpacts at the lifecycle of each type of product, and registers theobtained environmental impacts in the environmental information DB 391.

[0216] In response to a request from a terminal connected to theIntranet 11, the environmental-impact information collection system 39performs a process for verifying the information, representing theenvironmental impact and modified and analyzed in the above step S14,thereafter to provide the terminal of executives, etc. with the verifiedinformation (Step S15).

[0217] For example, the manager or staff in charge of the environmentalmatters operates a terminal to refer to the environmental impactinformation registered in the environmental information DB 391, andexamines the environmental impact information, etc. from variousaspects. Then, the manager, etc. makes decisions on the managementinvolving the environmental matters, points out improvements in themanagement, and issues instructions to corresponding section of theorganization.

[0218] In the case where to create an arbitrary report on theenvironmental matters, the staff in charge of the environmental mattersoperates the terminal, specifies a particular format, and instructs thepublication system 41 to create an environmental report. Upon receptionof this instruction, the publication system 41 retrieves informationcorresponding to the specified format from the environmental informationDB 391, creates a suitable report, and outputs (prints) the createdreport (Step S16).

[0219] Accordingly, the manager, etc. can accurately be aware of theenvironmental impact at the organization, entirely, by the operations ofthe environmental-impact information system 10. What the manger needs tobe concerned now is about how to reduce the environmental impact at theorganization. It would be too costly to reduce the environmental impact,and the investment would newly be required for achieving the reductionin the environmental impact. However, if investment for the reduction inthe environmental impact is done in a unlimited or lax manner, theorganization can not desirably be managed. In consideration of theabove, the environmental accounting system 43 creates information forrealizing a reduction in the environmental impact with an appropriateamount of investment, and provides the manager, etc. with the createdinformation.

[0220] The environmental accounting system 43 carries out an accountingprocess while comparing the expenses and environmental effects. Theaccounting process will now be explained with reference to FIG. 18.

[0221] In the entire sections of the organization, if the expense occursin the environmental measures, the staff in charge of book-keeping ineach section writes down the expense on a slip (Step S21). At this time,the person specifies what environmental impact should be improved atthat expense, and he/she operates the terminal, and inputs the writteninformation regarding the environmental matters into themanagement-information system 37 (Step S22). The management-informationsystem 37 stores the input information.

[0222] The management-information system 37 examines the percentage(exclusive percentage) of the time the entire staff deal with theenvironmental matters, of their entire work hours (Step S23). Themanagement-information system 37 multiplies the personnel expenses ofeach staff by the exclusive percentage, so as to derive the personnelexpenses for the environmental matters (Step S24).

[0223] The environmental accounting system 43 reads out and obtainsinformation representing the expenses in the environmental measures andinformation representing the personnel expenses for the environmentalmatters, from the management-information system 37 (Step S25).

[0224] The staff in charge of book-keeping in each environmental-mattersection of each office specifies the economical effects which arederived directly or indirectly by the environmental conservationactivities (Step S26).

[0225] The staff in charge of book-keeping in each section operates theterminal, and registers in the environmental accounting system 43information representing the economical effects in association withoffice/section information (an ID, etc. for identifying a correspondingsection of an office) (Step S27). The economical effect can besubdivided into an effect which can be calculated based on reliableinformation and an effect which can be calculated based on hypotheticalassumption. The staff in charge of book-keeping of each sectionadequately obtains both the economical effect based on reliableinformation and the economical effect based on hypothetical assumption,and registers the obtained effects in the environmental accountingsystem 43.

[0226] The environmental-impact information collection system 39 obtainsa reduction in the environmental impact as a result of activities on theenvironmental conservation in each office, based on the informationstored in the environmental information DB 391, and registers thereduction in the obtained environmental impact in association with theoffice/section information in the environmental accounting system 43(Step S28).

[0227] The environmental accounting system 43 obtains the registeredeconomical effect and the reduction amount in the environmental impact,according to each section of an office (Step S29).

[0228] The environmental accounting system 43 performs environmentalaccounting (calculates the expenses on the environmental matter), basedon the expense in the environmental measures and environmental effects(Step S30). That is, the environmental accounting system 43 compilesstatistics on the expenses on the environmental measures, using theexpenses and personnel expenses obtained in the step S25 and also theinformation representing the economic effect and the reduction in theenvironmental impact which are obtained in the step S29.

[0229] The environmental accounting system 43 obtains comparisoninformation of “the expenses in the environmental measures vs. thereduction in the environmental impact” and also “the expenses in theenvironmental measures vs. the economical effect”, according to eachtype of product, process, and office.

[0230] The environmental accounting system 43 obtains comparisoninformation of “the expenses in the environmental measures vs. thereduction in the environmental impact” and also “the expenses in theenvironmental measures vs. the management information for theenvironmental matters including the economic effects”. After this, theenvironmental accounting system 43 creates a report to be shown to theexecutives of the organization (Step S31).

[0231] The manager or executives refers to the management informationrepresenting the environmental matters which is shown on the report,considers the calculated expenses and the environmental effects, andfinds out a method for reducing the environmental impact and improvingthe management of the organization. After this, the manager orexecutives gives instructions based on the considerations of the aboveto a section controlling the environmental measures to be processed.Upon this, staff in charge of the environmental measures in this sectiongives instructions to each environmental-matter section of each office.

[0232] According to the above-described accounting process, the manageror executives can be aware of the relationship between the expenses inthe environmental measures and their environmental effects. In addition,the manager or executives can take some actions for realizing areduction in the environmental impact with an adequate amount ofinvestment, and hence contributing to improve the management of theorganization.

[0233] Further, in the case where a plurality of investment plans aremade for activities on the environmental conservation, the environmentalaccounting system 43 may specify the investment plans in order ofascending economic effect.

[0234] For example, as shown in FIG. 19, in the case where a pluralityof investment plans are made, the operator operates the terminal toinput, into the environmental accounting system 43, some informationitems of “Plan Name”, “Amount of Investment Ai (A1, A2, A3 . . . )”,“Number of Years to Repay (estimated number of years to maintain theeffects) Bi (B1, B2, B3 . . .)”, “(Reduction Amount of EnvironmentalImpact)/Year(s) Ci (C1, C2, C3 . . . )”, and “(Reduction Amount ofExpenses)/Year(s) Di (D1, D2, D3, . . . )”. Note that “i” represents anatural number.

[0235] Then, the environmental accounting system 43 obtains therelationship between the expenses and environmental effects, inaccordance with the following Equation 1.

Ei=Di×Bi/Ai   . . . Equation 1

[0236] Now, the environmental accounting system 43 sorts the investmentplans (Ai, Bi, Ci, Di, Ei) in order of ascending level of therelationships Ei between the expenses and environmental effects.

[0237] After the investment plans (Ai, Bi, Ci, Di, Ei) are sorted, theyare expressed respectively as An, Bn, Cn, Dn and En.

[0238] Then, the operator sets into the environmental accounting system43 that a predetermined amount (Y) of environmental impact should bereduced in a predetermined period of time (X years).

[0239] The environmental accounting system 43 obtains a reduction amountof the environmental impact in an X year(s), for each investment plan inthe sorted order (in order of ascending levels of the relationshipbetween the expenses and effects). Note that in the case where “thenumber of years to repay” Bn is smaller than X, X=Bn (obtain a reductionamount of the environmental impact in a Bn years).

[0240] The environmental accounting system 43 repeats the aboveprocedures, and competes until the reduction amount of the environmentalimpact reaches a target point Y.

[0241] The environmental accounting system 43 settles an adequate amountof investment, in accordance with the above procedures, as follows:

[0242] Number of investment plans on environmental matters: Number “m”of repetition times of the above procedures; Total amount ofinvestments: An; n=1 to m; and Estimated amount of reduction inenvironmental measures: Σ(Dn×X); N=1 to m.

[0243] The environmental accounting system 43 obtains an adequate amountof investments for each process (of supplying materials, etc.,manufacturing products, transporting products, etc.), thereby enablingto compare the environmental effects between the plurality of processesbased on the investments. The environmental accounting system 43 mayalso compare the entire investment plans in their entirety withoutdividing each plan into processes, and determine an a preferableinvestment plan, thereby to achieve the best mix of the amount ofinvestment and the environmental effects.

[0244] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, andvarious embodiments and changes may be made thereonto without departingfrom the broad spirit and scope of the invention. For example, as seenfrom FIG. 1, the environmental-impact information system 10 compriseseach of the above systems (the designing-information system 25, themanufacture information system 27, and the like), in association withthe above processes of designing products, manufacturing products, andthe like. However, the structure of the environmental-impact informationsystem 10 is not limited to this. The structure of theenvironmental-impact information system 10 can desirably be changed, inconsideration of processes to be carried out by or management system ofan organization.

[0245] In the above embodiment, in the case where theenvironmental-impact information system 39 obtains the indirectenvironmental impact, it obtains the environmental impact from theinformation acquired from the management-information system 37. Further,the environmental-impact information system 39 divides the obtainedenvironmental impact by the occupied area of buildings according toproduct type or by the number of staff. However, a method for obtainingthe indirect environmental impact is arbitrary. In the above embodiment,the environmental-impact information collection system 39 collects theenvironmental impact information which has partially been modified byeach of the systems (the designing-information system 25 tomanagement-information system 37). However, the environmental-impactinformation collection system 39 may modify the environmental impactinformation as needed, without modifying the information in any of thesystems other than the environmental-impact information collectionsystem 39.

[0246] The system of the present invention can be realized by ageneral-purpose computer. For example, a program for executing theabove-described processes may be installed into a computer from a medium(an FD, CD-ROM, DVD or the like), and the program may run on an OS(Operating System) to realize the system of the present invention. Theprogram and data may be stored in a disk device, etc. installed into theserver device on the Internet, and embodied in a carrier wave so as tobe downloaded.

[0247] Various embodiments and changes may be made thereon-to withoutdeparting from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. Theabove-described embodiment is intended to illustrate the presentinvention, not to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope ofthe present invention is shown by the attached claims rather than theembodiment. Various modifications made within the meaning of anequivalent of the claims of the invention and within the claims are tobe regarded to be in the scope of the present invention.

[0248] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.2000-287772 filed on Sep. 21, 2000, and including specification, claims,drawings and summary. The disclosure of the above Japanese PatentApplication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An environmental impact information system,comprising: an environmental impact information obtaining unit whichobtains environmental impact information regarding an environmentalimpact at a plurality of processes included in activities of anorganization; an environmental impact information collector whichcollects the environmental impact information obtained by theenvironmental impact information obtaining unit; and an environmentalimpact information analyzer which analyzes the environmental impactinformation collected by said environmental impact informationcollector, and obtains an reduction amount of the environmental impact.2. The environmental impact information system according to claim 1,further including a chemical material information memory unit whichstores in advance chemical-material information regarding chemicalmaterials included in a plurality of to-be-supplied materials to be usedfor manufacturing products, and wherein said environmental impactinformation obtaining unit specifies each of the to-be-suppliedmaterials to be used for manufacturing products, and reads out thechemical-material information corresponding to the specifiedto-be-supplied materials from said chemical material information memoryunit.
 3. The environmental impact information system according to claim1, wherein said environmental impact information obtaining unit measuresan amount of consumed electricity, an amount of consumed fossil fuel, anamount of consumed water, an amount of consumed chemical materials, anexhaust amount of exhaust gas and an exhaust amount of waste whileproducts are manufactured.
 4. The environmental impact informationsystem according to claim 1, wherein said environmental impactinformation obtaining unit measures an amount of used fuel and anexhaust amount of exhaust gas while products are transported.
 5. Theenvironmental impact information system according to claim 1, whereinsaid environmental impact information obtaining unit measuresinformation representing a status of products.
 6. The environmentalimpact information system according to claim 1, wherein saidenvironmental impact information obtaining unit measures an amount ofconsumed electricity, an amount of consumed fossil fuel, an amount ofused water, an amount of used chemical materials, an exhaust amount ofexhaust gas, an amount of waste, and an amount of maintenance in apredetermined unit while maintenance is performed for products.
 7. Theenvironmental impact information system according to claim 1, whereinsaid environmental impact information obtaining unit measures an amountof consumed fuel and an exhaust amount of exhaust gas while products arebeing collected, and measures also information representing a recyclingstatus of the collected products.
 8. An environmental impact informationsystem comprising: environmental impact information obtaining means forobtaining environmental impact information regarding an environmentalimpact at a plurality of processes included in activities of anorganization; environmental impact information collection means forcollecting the environmental impact information obtained by saidenvironmental impact information obtaining means; environmental impactinformation analyzing means for analyzing the environmental impactinformation collected by said environmental impact informationcollection means, and obtaining a set of environmental impacts in aproduct's life cycle; and report information generation means forgenerating report information in a predetermined format, based on theenvironmental impact information collected by said environmental impactinformation collection means and information representing the set ofenvironmental impacts obtained by said environmental impact informationanalyzing means.
 9. An environmental impact information system includinga plurality of process management devices for managing a plurality ofprocesses included in activities of an organization and an environmentalmanagement device which are connected with each other through apredetermined network, and wherein: each of said process managementdevices obtains environmental impact information regarding anenvironmental impact at each of the processes; and said environmentalmanagement device collects the environmental impact information obtainedby each of said process management devices through a network, andobtains a set of environmental impacts in a product's life cycle basedon the collected environmental impact information.
 10. The environmentalimpact information system according to claim 9, wherein said processmanagement device obtains information regarding chemical materialsincluded in materials to be used for manufacturing products.
 11. Theenvironmental impact information system according to claim 9, whereinsaid process management device measures an amount of used electricity,an amount of used fossil fuel, an amount of used water, an amount ofused chemical materials, an exhaust amount of exhaust gas, and anexhaust amount of waste while products are manufactured.
 12. Theenvironmental impact information system according to claim 9, whereinsaid process management device measures an amount of consumed fuel andan exhaust amount of exhaust gas while products are transported.
 13. Theenvironmental impact information system according to claim 9, whereinsaid process management device measures information representing astatus of each product.
 14. The environmental impact information systemaccording to claim 9, wherein said process management device measures anamount of used electricity, an amount of used fossil fuel, an amount ofused water, an amount of used chemical materials, an exhaust amount ofexhaust gas, an exhaust amount of waste, and an amount of maintenance ina predetermined unit while maintenance is performed for products. 15.The environmental impact information system according to claim 9,wherein said process management device measures information representingan amount of consumed fuel and an exhaust amount of exhaust gas whileproducts are being collected and information representing a recyclingstatus of the collected products.
 16. An environmental impactinformation system, including a process management device for managing aplurality of processes included in activities of an organization and anenvironmental management device which are connected with each otherthrough a predetermined network, and wherein: said process managementdevice includes environmental impact information obtaining means forobtaining environmental impact information regarding an environmentalimpact at each of the plurality of processes; said environmentalmanagement device includes an environmental impact informationcollection means for collecting the environmental impact informationwhich is obtained by said environmental impact information obtainingmeans, and an environmental impact analyzing means for analyzing theenvironmental impact information collected by said environmental impactinformation collection means, and obtaining a set of environmentalimpacts in a product's life cycle; and report information generationmeans for generating report information in a predetermined format, basedon the environmental impact information collected by said environmentalimpact information collection means and information representing the setof environmental impacts obtained by said environmental impactinformation analyzing means.
 17. A method for providing environmentalimpact information, said method comprising the steps of: obtainingenvironmental impact information regarding an environmental impact ateach of a plurality of processes included in activities of anorganization; collecting the environmental impact information obtainedat said obtaining step; analyzing a set of environmental impacts in aproduct's life cycle, based on the environmental impact informationcollected at said collecting step; and providing information regardingthe set of environmental impacts obtained at said analyzing step.
 18. Acomputer readable recording medium which records a program forcontrolling a computer to execute a method for providing environmentalimpact information, said method comprising the steps of: obtainingenvironmental impact information regarding an environmental impact ateach of a plurality of processes included in activities of anorganization; collecting the environmental impact information obtainedat said obtaining step; analyzing a set of environmental impacts in aproduct's life cycle, based on the environmental impact informationcollected at said collecting step; and providing information regardingthe set of environmental impacts obtained at said analyzing step.
 19. Adata signal embedded in a carrier wave and representing an instructionsequence for controlling a computer to execute a method for providingenvironmental impact information, said method comprising the steps of:obtaining environmental impact information regarding an environmentalimpact at each of a plurality of processes included in activities of anorganization; collecting the environmental impact information obtainedat said obtaining step; analyzing a set of environmental impacts in aproduct's life cycle, based on the environmental impact informationcollected at said collecting step; and providing information regardingthe set of environmental impacts obtained at said analyzing step.